Door2Tour.com reports sales increase for cruise holidays

9 June 2011

Door2Tour.com, the website tour consolidator, has released new figures that show cruise holidays are proving ever more popular in 2011, reporting a massive sales increase of 308% in bookings for cruise holidays compared to the same period last year.

The findings reflect research from the Passenger Shipping Authority, which has shown that at least one in nine package holidays taken by Brits was a cruising break with at least 40% of all cruises departing from a British port. It is believed that shorter cruise breaks are going to be popular during 2011 and Door2Tour.com agreed after noticing that mini cruises account for at least 45% of all cruise holiday bookings taken so far this year, followed by 33% for high-value ocean cruises and 22% for river cruises. This in turn has seen prices fall with the average cruise holiday costing under £1000 last year.

The new research also goes against the suggestion that cruise holidays are only preferred by the older generation, showing that at least 21% were aged 25-30 when they went on their first cruise holiday. Families are also starting to see the benefits involved with cruise holidays and are opting to venture onto ships and travel the ocean rather than stick to a traditional package holiday. Ships such as the ‘Epic’ and ‘Oasis of the Seas’ are literally providing holiday resorts on the waves offering shopping malls, aqua parks, outdoor amphitheatres and so much more.

Northern Europe appears to be the favourite destination for cruise holiday enthusiasts with itineraries for cruising The Baltics and the Norwegian Fjords being the most popular. The Caribbean remains the hot favourite with at least 8% opting for cruise holidays to explore its many islands such as St Lucia, Barbados and Cuba.

It’s not just cruise holidays that have seen a surge in popularity this year; revenue for UK coach holidays is up 39% while European coach breaks are up 46% compared to the same period in 2010.

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Rachel Jones, Online PR & Marketing Co-ordinator, for Door2Tour.com said: “It certainly looks like cruise holidays are the way to go this holiday season if our recent sales figures are anything to go by. Households are facing a number of financial hurdles this year what with the high cost of living and salaries stagnating, therefore many are considering carefully what to do when it comes to their annual holidays in 2011.”

Door2Tour.com has also noticed that certain coach breaks that were popular in 2010 are declining in interest, particularly London theatre breaks with sales revenues falling by 18% compared to 2010. It is thought that people are now seeing London theatre breaks as luxury expenditure and are choosing to abandon this idea in favour of ploughing their hard-earned money into their main holiday for 2011.

Rachel concluded: “Cruise holidays are increasing in popularity this year as people begin to notice how much money they can save with this great-value holiday option. The benefit of cruise holidays is that everything is included in one price so people do not have to worry about funding for meals, drinks, entertainment and excursions - all they need to take is spending money should they want a souvenir or two to remember their holiday by.”